International Legal News
Updated: Sep 24, 2019
Weekly update: 10 September-16 September 2019
The following media round up of international legal and foreign policy issues from around the world for the period 10 - 16 September 2019.
The Guernica Group will provide weekly media updates from the International Criminal Court, European Court of Human Rights, United Nations, European Union and other sources. Should you wish to contribute or submit a media summary, opinion piece or blog, please send to Nenad Vucijak for consideration.
Iran: 10 September 2019
A young woman who set herself on fire after being summoned to court to face charges after trying to enter a football stadium in Tehran died from her injuries in hospital.
European Court of Human Rights: 10 September 2019
In the case of Strand Lobben and Others v Norway, the European Court of Human Rights held that there had been a violation of Article 8 (right to respect for private and family life) of the European Convention on Human Rights in respect of both applicants, a mother and her son. The case concerned the domestic authorities’ decision to remove a mother’s parental authority and let foster parents adopt her son.
https://echr.coe.int/Pages/home.aspx?p=home
Bahrain: 11 September 2019
The Bahraini authorities’ inhuman denial of urgent medical treatment for seriously ill Bahraini academic and opposition activist, Dr Abdel-Jalil al-Singace, is a denial of his right to health and an act of international cruelty states Amnesty International.
European Court of Human Rights: 11 September 2019
The European Court of Human Rights holds a Grand Chamber hearing in the case of Ukraine v Russa (re Crimea). The case concerns Ukraine’s allegations of violations of the European Convention on Human Rights by the Russian Federation in Crimea.
https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng-press#{%22itemid%22:[%22003-6498871-8572177%22]}
South Africa: 13 September 2019
Thousands of protesters wearing all-black, brandishing placards and singing apartheid-era struggle songs took to the streets of Johannesburg to demonstrate against what they called a scourge of femicide in South Africa. The move has been brought to the forefront of South African society after 19 year-old Nene Mrwetyana was raped and murdered in August by a post office employee.
Italy: 14 September 2019
Italy’s new government allowed a charity ship with 82 rescued people on board to sail to the southern island of Lampedusa, in a move that reduces the strict-door policies of former Minister of Interior Matteo Salvini.
Central African Republic: 15 September 2019
Fighting between rival armed groups in the Central African Republic has left at least 23 people dead and scores wounded, according to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country. The clashes between the Popular Front for the Renaissance of the Central African Republic and the Movement of Central African Freedom Fighters for Justice took place in Birao, near the Sudanese border.
United Kingdom: 16 September 2019
The Belfast Court of Appeal is due to rule on Friday 20 September as to whether an investigation into criminal acts committed during the interrogation of the ‘Hooded Men’ in 1971 should proceed. The High Court in Belfast has previously ruled that the Police Service of Northern Ireland must investigate the unlawful treatment of the men and that the force’s decision to end its investigation into the case in 2014 was “seriously flawed”.
International Criminal Court: 16 September 2019
The Prosecution gives notice of its appeal against the oral decision of the Majority of Trial Chamber I in the case Prosecutor v Laurent Gabo and Charles Blé Goudé. The appeal will demonstrate that the Trial Chamber committed legal and procedural errors which led to the acquittals of Mr Gbagbo and Mr Blé Goudé on all counts.
https://www.icc-cpi.int/CourtRecords/CR2019_05626.PDF
Libya: 16 September 2019
Italian police have arrested three people accused of kidnapping, torturing and trafficking people hoping to set sail from Libya to Europe. A 27 year old man from Guinea and two Egyptians were taken into custody at a detention centre in Messina after police gathered testimony against them from other migrants, the witnesses said the three ran a prisoners’ camp where those ready to attempt the Mediterranean Sea crossing were forcibly held until they could pay a ransom.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/09/migrant-torturers-libya-arrested-italy-190916101725513.html
United Nations Human Rights Council: 16 September 2019
UN Human Rights Council experts call for immediate measures to protect freedom of expression as demonstrations continue. The government of Indonesia has been urged to protect the rights of activists advocating for more freedom in the country’s West Papua and allow unrestricted access to information from the restive eastern region.